Just got an spam email around the entire office from somebody saying diesel is almost gone in a like a 10 mile radius and one of the local BPs is apparently dry.

Yes, I've tried to confirm - it seems to be in most of the country. I've heard that many pumps are putting up minimum prices at £20-30 and the news says that lots of drivers are rushing to 'top up' or 'hoard it all in'.... Interesting...

Hmmm? Cynical it may be, but just a thought to consider. Panic buying = more revenue for the government in the form of taxes right at the end of the financial year? Artificially bumped up set of figures to give weight to a statement that they are fixing the economy when it suits? Who's to say that all this is just not instigated by our own government as a means to an end? After all, don't forget, they have still not confirmed that there is actually going to be a strike yet, have they?

Unbelievable. The Tories deliberately induce panic buying knowing that
a) Milliband can't actually condemn the strike for fear of losing the financial support of the union and
b) it provides a golden opportunity for the petrol companies to up their profits enough to justify a healthy bit of support for the Tories come the next election.

Aren't we suffering enough already? Is there any justification at all for this concious and deliberate Tory attack on the ordinary member of the public?

I have to laugh at the union accusing the government of screwing things up. This is exactly what they want, if everyone went about their lives in a normal way they wouldn't get either publicity or the satisfaction of ****ging off the government.

Admittedly, the government did say some pretty stupid things. I just find the unions accusations laughable.

(Original post by cakefish)
Hey I'm definitely no fan of the tories but it isn't like they're forcing you to buy petrol. People have free will.

They did advise people to go fill up their cars though, or store petrol in jerry cans. This was a massive mistake, it's both dangerous and illegal. Now they've had to backtrack and say 'No don't do that'.

People have free will but many would see that statement, as well as the strike threat, and go out and do it. If only we all had common sense eh?

(Original post by Sovr'gnChancellor£)
A comment from the Sky News website:

Well considering tomorrow is last day of Q1(2012) and the government is desperate to stave off inflation, this might just be the golden opportunity to bump up their retail sales........even better if tomorrow everyone panic buys and stockpiles on food supplies too..

I read the fuel sales went up 50% more than what should be expected on a normal day in March...that was yesterday, cant imagine what it is today.

My partner is the night guard at tesco and their garage is meant to close at 10pm but was still open yesterday at midnight with cars lining up around an island, out of the tesco entrance and onto the main road...

(Original post by cakefish)
Hey I'm definitely no fan of the tories but it isn't like they're forcing you to buy petrol. People have free will.

Everyone should know by now to ignore government advice lol

People also have an infinite capacity for stupidity. The problem, as much as anything, is with people who do have to buy petrol regularly. Florists, couriers, burger vans and 101 other occupations that can only bring money in with the use of a vehicle. There will be thousands upon thousands of them who were running a little bit low on Tuesday. There will be thousands upon thousands of them who cover enough miles that they need to fill up every day or every other day. The government makes these stupid statements; these traders have to spend an hour or so queueing for their fuel (probably with their engine running) which is time that they aren't earning any money.

Once again the government screws the ordinary person just to serve the interests of themselves and of big business.